ENVIRONMENTAL biology is making a comeback here as well as worldwide, as universities recognise the discipline’s role in the study of climate change and environmental issues like pollution.

Both the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) plan to revamp their curricula to include more topics in the field, and the latter has applied for funding to set up a Research Centre of Excellence for environmental science.

As NUS’ biological sciences head Paul Matsudaira put it: ‘Singapore is at the epicentre of some of the major and most challenging environmental problems that have to be addressed.

‘The equatorial location is one asset, since tropical environmental problems are comparatively under-researched.’

Like other biology disciplines such as molecular biology and genetics, environmental biology is the study of living things, but in terms of their surroundings.

For example, it looks at how pollution and climate change affect species and biodiversity. Thus ecology, ecotoxicology and conservation biology might be considered aspects of environmental biology.

NUS, for instance, is offering several new courses on ecology and evolutionary biology this year, and in the last two years, it has hired at least four new faculty members in biology.

Meanwhile, NTU’s school of biological sciences has hired several international faculty members to study microbial ecology, said provost Bertil Andersson.

NTU’s attention to environmental biology, the school’s expertise in earth sciences and its experience in environmental engineering are all part of a new university-wide Sustainable Earth initiative, which is expected to be launched formally in February next year.

But these changes are not driven solely by university administrations. They have also come about because of rising student interest.

One in five life sciences majors at NUS, for example, now opts for environmental biology modules, up from 12 per cent seven years ago.

NUS started its integrated life sciences curriculum in 2001 and NTU started its School of Biological Sciences the following year, as part of a nationwide drive to train more students in the field.

But NUS biological sciences graduate Huang Danwei, now 28, felt he was not getting enough training in biodiversity and ecology. So in 2006, he and 10 others met the dean to propose curriculum changes.

The department listened to them, and classes in biodiversity and ecology are now available in the first- and second-year syllabuses.

There is demand for people with taxonomy skills and biodiversity know-how as fields like climate modelling and conservation grow.

For instance, the Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s Institute of High Performance Computing had a recent job posting for a research officer with ‘expertise in data management, database, climate change scenarios and biodiversity’.

But will these changes translate into real environmental policy changes or scientific advances?

Professor Matsudaira said he expects the biggest impact to come from the development of science-backed environmental policy, where Singapore will directly influence the Asia-Pacific region.

‘Because we are scientifically strong, we will train students and scientists for jobs in government, research and industry,’ he said.

However, students and universities should not jump on the bandwagon simply because the field is hot, warned National Institute of Education biologist Shawn Lum.

‘We should do it not because it’s a fad, but because as educational institutions and as a country, we value it as a worthy field and endeavour, and our interest in it is not going to fall by the wayside the moment the next big thing comes along,’ he said.

Yes, the ruckus this past week is caused by Marine Lab's Lynette Loke's seawall project. Construction materials have been appearing outside the Frog Lab and over time, a mini-seawall factory appeared. Lynette told me another 180 tiles would arrive this evening.

But she has found help – the handy kungfu hands of a botanist no less, have been recruited to do the deadly dead of smashing tiles! How we love to see honours students hard at work – it motivates the rest of us!

Congratulations to Paul Chen from the Systematics and Ecology Lab on being awarded the President’s Graduate Fellowship. The fellowship is awarded to candidates who show exceptional promise or accomplishment in research. Only a number of Ph.D. research students are selected each semester by the University for the award.

Paul with his honors poster on stidulatory behaviour ofPerisesarma eumolpe

Paul graduated from the B.Sc. (Honors) Life Sciences (Biology) class of 2008/09 with first class honors. His thesis work was featured in the Straits Times science section earlier this year. Paul currently divides his time between working at the Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI) and teaching at NUS and intends to pursue a Ph.D. in crustacean behaviour starting Jan 2010.

Enoka is roughing it out in the field in Sri Lanka doing her field work. During one IM conversation – she bouncing around in a truck with a flashlight in her mouth and me comfortably at home, I persuaded her to send me this.

So now for a glimpse of “a day in the life” of a grad student in the field – she did a nice, quick job!

Research Assistant/Technical Support Officer opportunities with the Department of Biological Sciences, NUS and the Public Utilities Board, PUB.

As Singapore is one of most water-scarce countries in the world, water management is critical. The Public Utilities Board recently commissioned the National University of Singapore’s Department of Biological Sciences to develop a lentic macro-invertebrate biotic index for the island’s waterways, with an emphasis on shallow tropical lakes. This will now complement the extensive water quality sampling regime already in place.

We are seeking three Research Assistants and/or Laboratory Technicians to assist a team with monitoring freshwater invertebrates in Singapore.

The candidates should have:

either a polytechnic diploma or degree in biology or a related subject,

field experience,

preferably a Singaporean driving licence,

experience of ecological sampling protocols and/or freshwater macro-invertebrates. This would be advantageous but full training will be provided ‘on the job’.

The posts are initially for 6 months with a likely possibility of longer-term employment depending on the performance on the job and/or progress of the project. Positions are available immediately.

Interested candidates are invited to send their CV to Dr Esther Clews at dbsec@nus.edu.sg.

Closing date for applications: Thursday 29th October 2009.Interviews will take place during the first week of November.

Congratulations to Gwynne Shimin Lim from the Evolutionary Biology Laboratory on winning an International Fulbright Science and Technology Award. Her award allows her to pursue a Ph.D. in Science, Technology and Engineering at a leading US university. The fellowship comes with assistance in admission as well as three years of full financial support (tuition, living expenses, travel expenses, book allowance).

The Science & Technology award is co-sponsored by the US Department of State and the US Department of Education in order to underscore the commitment of the United States to welcoming future researchers and leaders in Science, Technology and Engineering. It was started in 2006 and the number of annual awards is 40 worldwide.

Gwynne graduated from NUS and USP in 2007 with a B.Sc. (Honours) in Life Science (Biology). She subsequently pursued a Master of Science in Life Science and has published four papers including one in Annual Review of Entomology. She has also attended four international conferences and recently won the Don Rozen award for her presentation at the XXVIII. Annual Meeting of the Willi Hennig Society.

Gwynne is active in Singapore’s biodiversity community and was the Editor-in-Chief of the inaugural issue of NUS’s chapter of “The Triple Helix” which is dedicated to popularizing science across the campuses of major world universities.

She intends to pursue a PhD in plant systematics.

Her award is only the second one for Singapore. The first went to another NUS student and USP graduate (Mr. Reuben Ng) who majored in psychology, pursued a M.Sc. in Management Research at the University of Oxford before using his Fulbright award to pursue a Ph.D. in Public Health at Yale University.